PALOS VERDES PENINSULA HORSEMEN’S ASSOCIATIONDISPATCH
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COMMUNITY CALENDAR PVPHA General Monthly Meeting: CANCELLED Equestrian Committee Meeting MONDAY, MAY 24, 7 – 9 PM. The Equestrian Committee normally meets on the 4th Monday of each month. You can view and participate in meetings virtually. Instructions are available on the city website. Semi-Annual Tack Sale SATURDAY MAY 1 AT ROLLING HILLS GENERAL STORE. Contact Kelly Yates for more info: 310-694-7226 South Bay Gymkhana Series Rating Event: SUNDAY MAY 2, 10 AM – 3 PM PVPHA Membership Renewal: JULY 1 Events listed here are not necessarily sponsored or endorsed by the PVPHA. To add an event, please email: pvpha. [email protected] MAY 2021 Vol. XXXV, Issue 5 PVPHA.org PALOS VERDES PENINSULA HORSEMEN’S ASSOCIATION DISPATCH “Heels Down - Chin Up - Look Where You’re Going” (with your eyes closed?!) Doesn’t this photo just perfectly describe this past year of being “closed” because of COVID-19, while still riding toward our destinations? By Jan Spak I had a chance to sit down and talk with Jan Ball recently and reflect on her 50+ years of teaching literally thousands of students to love, respect and ride horses on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. I feel honored to count myself as one of those thousands and will be forever grateful to Jan for the “gift” of helping me realize my childhood dream of having a true understanding and relationship with horses. After years of begging her parents for a horse, at the age of 10 Jan got her first horse, “Sam”, who lived in her backyard. It took Jan a long time to realize that the wait was a smart parental move, because she was old enough to take responsibility for the daily care & maintenance. She says this really helped her learn how horses think and give signals for sickness and distress. Jan rode every day on the hill’s trails & even blazed A Tribute to Jan Ball
Transcript of PALOS VERDES PENINSULA HORSEMEN’S ASSOCIATIONDISPATCH
COMMUNITYCALENDARPVPHA General Monthly Meeting: CANCELLEDEquestrian Committee Meeting MONDAY, MAY 24, 7 – 9 PM. The Equestrian Committee normally meets on the 4th Monday of each month. You can view and participate in meetings virtually. Instructions are available on the city website.Semi-Annual Tack SaleSATURDAY MAY 1 AT ROLLING HILLS GENERAL STORE. Contact Kelly Yates for more info: 310-694-7226South Bay Gymkhana Series Rating Event: SUNDAY MAY 2, 10 AM – 3 PM
PVPHA Membership Renewal: JULY 1
Events listed here are not necessarily sponsored or endorsed by the PVPHA. To add an event, please email: [email protected]
MAY 2021Vol. XXXV, Issue 5 PVPHA.org
PALOS VERDES PENINSULA HORSEMEN’S ASSOCIATION
DISPATCH
“Heels Down - Chin Up - Look Where You’re Going” (with your eyes closed?!)Doesn’t this photo just perfectly describe this past year of being “closed” because of COVID-19, while still riding toward our destinations?
By Jan SpakI had a chance to sit down and talk with Jan Ball recently and reflect on her 50+ years of teaching literally thousands of students to love, respect and ride horses on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. I feel honored to count myself as one of those thousands and will be forever grateful to Jan for the “gift” of helping me realize my childhood dream of having a true understanding and relationship with horses.
After years of begging her parents for a horse, at the age of 10 Jan got her first horse, “Sam”, who lived in her backyard. It took Jan a long time to realize that the wait was a smart parental move, because she was old enough to take responsibility for the daily care & maintenance. She says this really helped her learn how horses think and give signals for sickness and distress. Jan rode every day on the hill’s trails & even blazed
A Tribute to Jan Ball
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INSIDE THIS ISSUEA Tribute to Jan Ball ......................................................................... 1-4Calista Yun: Saving Lives by Baking Cookies .................................... 5-7"Extreme Wylene" Comes to Town ........................................................ 8South Bay Gymkhana Series Resumes ................................................. 9May Photo ......................................................................................... 10
TRAIL PROTECTION
FUNDPlease consider making a donation to the PVPHA Trail Protection Fund. All donors receive recognition with their name in the Dispatch in the following month. All donations are tax-deductible.
Thank you to the following PVPHA members for their generous donation to the Trail Protection Fund:
E Linda Humphrey EE Deborah Regan E
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS:
E Sheila Elliott E E William Fiers E
E Danielle Fizulich E E Keren Seymour EE Brian Marshall E
E Melissa Sheridan E E Linda Humphrey E
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Jan Ball riding horses at competition. Photos provided by Jan Ball.
a few new ones! She hunted for peacock feathers when there were only 6 peacocks on the entire hill! She joined the 4H Horse Project & learned a lot about safety, hard work, and having fun with horses. She studied with Sharon McKay, Lloyd Pillsbury, and Rod Kelly. While attending college at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on the horse show team, she realized she knew more than the teacher and that she really wanted to become a riding instructor.
Jan started teaching horseback riding in 1973 and taught at Peter Weber Equestrian Center since 1982. Her hat is off to the current management at PWEC for how hard they’re working to introduce the wonderful horsey lifestyle to countless beginner riders. Jan feels that they have played an integral role in keeping the equestrian lifestyle alive on the Peninsula.
Over the years, Jan has focused on safety and being patient, firm and gentle so horses become relaxed, not scared. Consistency is key, she said. Your horse is only as good as you fairly treat them. Confident rider – confident horse! Again, I can personally attest to this philosophy that Jan so strongly instilled in me and the bond and relationship I enjoy to this day with my horse, Mr. Big. A good number of her students have gone on to have careers with horses as veterinarians or trainers, some of which are still on the peninsula. This makes her smile!
Jan’s training focus kept her busy, but she also spent fun times in the
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Jan Ball with husband Larry and their dog.
Sierra Pack Stations camping, leading mules thru streams and over snowy mountain passes. She won Reserve World Champion Trail Mule at Bishop Mule Days. She traveled with her horses and rode over the Nevada Falls Bridge Trail in Yosemite which she said was pretty scary! Jan has done some judging, and for fourteen years, she modeled Show clothing for Hobby Horse, a national horse show magazine.
Jan’s students have won numerous championships at the annual AQHA Congress in Ohio, a national show that brings an average of 17,000 entrees. She’s also had several ranked winners in the AQHA Youth World Show in Oklahoma. For much of her career, Jan has been very fortunate to have her wonderful husband, Larry by her side. He has been supportive of her horse addiction and spent endless hours loading trailers, sharing driving duty on long hauls, and designing elaborate horse show setups. Jan feels so lucky to have had him by her side!
Jan’s horse fever is not over just because she has retired from full time training at PWEC. She’s opened the door for others to do what she loved and I’m sure she will be spotted enjoying our incredible Peninsula trails for many years to come! Happy trails my friend and thank you from all of us who have been lucky enough to have your words of wisdom shape who we’ve become as horse men and women. I’m pretty sure there are a lot of horses out there who’d like to thank you as well!
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Calista Yun: Saving Lives
by Baking Cookies
By Britney GroverReprinted with permission from Sidelines magazineWhen 13-year-old Calista Yun isn’t riding or doing her 7th grade schoolwork, she’s in the kitchen — baking and decorating horse treats for her business, TuffCookie.co. Though it began with making treats for her own pony, Calista’s mission to “leave no pony unspoiled” has grown into nonstop baking in her Manhattan Beach, California, home — and to helping animals in need. She donates a portion of every sale to PetDude Rescues, a small, home-based animal rescue in Rancho Cucamonga, California.
“Calista is beyond amazing,” said Curt Schiller, founder of PetDude Rescues. “I’m still starting out with my own rescue, so Calista donating part of her proceeds was beyond amazing. It directly helped a dog get the medical attention he needed — it quite literally saved a life. TuffCookie.co is an amazing business with amazing products, and we’re honored that she chose us to support.”
How and when did you get involved with horses?I got involved with horses when I was 5 years old. I always saw horses on the way to school and begged my mom to let me ride. My very first horse was a pony named Georgie and I got her when I was 6. My second horse’s name is Linus; he was my show jumper but we’ve retired him and he is now my
Calista shows one of her cookies and the inspiration it was modeled after from Hunterbrook Farm.Photo courtesy of Ryan May.
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trail horse. Taquito is my third horse and is my main show jumping horse. I’ve had Taquito for less than a year.
What classes do you compete in?The classes that I do now are the Children's Jumpers 1.10m with Taquito. I’ve also been doing the hunters and equitation classes because my trainer and I know how important those classes are in making me a better rider. It’s been great because my trainer, Nick Haness, has been finding me lots of catch rides in those divisions!
Why did you start making cookies?I started making cookies because my pony is metabolic, which means we have to watch what she eats and she can’t eat anything with sugar. But she still deserved treats, so I decided to make her sugar-free ones. I slowly moved over to making iced treats because I thought it was more fun and creative.
How did you learn to bake?I learned to bake by watching many cooking TV shows, and then I realized how much fun it is to change up the ingredients and come up with my own recipes.
What made you decide to give part of your earnings away?I know rescues and charities need it more. I am a major animal lover. In addition to my horses, I also have two dogs that are my world. It makes me so sad when I see sick, abandoned or abused animals and I’ve always wanted to help. Now I have a way.
Why did you decide to give your earnings to PetDude Rescues?I decided to give my earnings to PetDude Rescues because it’s amazing what he’s doing for these animals in need. He truly cares and loves each and every animal he helps, and would do anything for them. I know how expensive it can be, so I thought that I could help with my earnings.
Calista Yun with TaquitoPhoto courtesy of Calista Yun
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When you started, what was your goal? How are you doing now?My goal was to have fun and make a few sales. Now, I’m always in the kitchen baking and decorating, trying to keep up with my order backlog!
What challenges have you faced as you’ve done this, and how have you overcome them?The biggest challenge I’ve faced is balancing my time between school, riding and baking. Thankfully, my mom has been helping me throughout this entire venture by baking and decorating alongside me.
What would you like to tell others who want to do good in their community?I think doing good in your community starts with doing what you know in your heart is right.
For more information on TuffCookie.co, visit TuffCookieco.com or Instagram @tuffcookie.co. For more information on PetDude Rescues, visit PetDudeRescues.com or Instagram @petduderescues and @curtthepetdude.
Above: TuffCookie.co’s “Valentine's tootsie rolls” cookie boxPhoto courtesy of Calista Yun
Right: Calista’s donations to PetDude Rescues have helped pay for the medical care and basic needs of animals including these two bunnies rescued from a shelter.Photo courtesy of PetDude Rescues
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It's that time of the year again for some FUN and CONFIDENCE and NEW SKILLS with our horses!! Buckle up... "Extreme Wylene" is coming back to town May 3-12! Eden Heinsheimer will be setting up private and semi-private lessons, clinics and trail time. As most of you know, Wylene helps with every level of horsemanship - from confidence and trail safety to emergency dismounts to leads to barrels/poles to cows to obstacles to pace control to bodywork to groundwork to laydowns to trailer loading to... well, you name it!!! And most importantly she helps make it SUPER FUN to ride your horse. Contact Eden at 310-984-9905 ASAP to grab a spot as they are already filling quickly.
"Extreme Wylene" Comes to Town
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Kids learn how to wrap a horse's leg at Dr. Ruth Sobeck's equine first aid clinic. Thank you so much to Dr. Sobeck for sharing your valuable knowledge! Photo provided by Kelly Yates.
South Bay Gymkhana Series will be resum-ing gymkhanas on May 2nd! Since it has been so long since the last gymkhana, ev-ery rider will be re-rated, and the first event will be a rating event. They will run skill barrels, Big T, and Cloverleaf. This will be a laid-back day, so food will not be served.Registration for the event opens at 9:00 A.M. and the event begins at 10:00 A.M. It should finish around 3:00 P.M. The gym-khana will be held at the Empty Saddle Club (39 Empty Saddle Road, Rolling Hill Estates). For more information, and dates for future gymkhanas, visit:www.southbaygymkhanaseries.com
South Bay Gymkhana Series Resumes
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PVPHA BOARD ELECTIONSElections will be held in June, conditions permitting. The following positions are up for election:
• President• VP Civic Affairs• VP Membership• Corresponding SecretaryThose who are interested in running or nominating someone for a position on the Board of Directors should contact the Nominating Committee Chair Melody Colbert.
Nominating Committee Chair Contact:
Phone: 310-427-4378
Email: [email protected]
May Photo!Tom Gilmartin sent us this photo of his daughter, Madeline Gilmartin, taking her horse Biggs for a birthday walk at the Empty Saddle Club! The two are BFFs, so Madeline made sure that Biggs' birthday was celebrated properly. Too sweet! Thanks to Tom for sharing this special moment with us!
JUNE PHOTO!From now on, instead of doing monthly themes, we will simply be featuring a particularly lovely horse photo each month!Submit your favorite horsey pictures to [email protected] to get yourself and your horse featured in an upcoming dispatch!
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JOIN THE PVPHATo join the Palos Verdes Peninsula Horsemen’s Association, clip and mail this form to PVPHA PO Box 4153 Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA 90274
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Rates and Policy
PVPHA Board of DirectorsCharlene O’Neil, President 310-422-1212Nancy Wildman, VP Membership 310-729-3266Sean Martin, VP Fiscal Affairs 310-418-4583Sharon Yarber, VP Civic Affairs 310-378-9412Jan Spak, VP Education 310-291-2484Melody Colbert, Treasurer 310-427-4378Erin Ryan, Recording Secretary 310-413-4679Tiffany Chiu, Corresponding Secretary 310-621-4247
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The PVPHA “Dispatch” is a publication of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Horse-men’s Association, a charitable non-profit organization classified by the IRS as a publicly supported tax-exempt organization. Please direct all editorial correspondence to:
PVPHAPO Box 4153Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA 90274
PVPHAPO BOX 4153Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA 90274
